Flybe and Network Rail receive support pledge from GoSkills

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Monday, 04, Feb 2008 12:00

Newly appointed awarding bodies a credit to the sector says GoSkills

GoSkills, the Sector Skills Council (SSC) for Passenger Transport has offered its congratulations to Flybe and Network Rail (along with McDonald’s) following their appointment as awarding bodies by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) and has pledged to support them in the development of their qualifications portfolios.

Achieving QCA awarding body status requires a demonstrable commitment to skills and training and GoSkills will be working closely with Network Rail, Flybe and any other employers that may wish to take on the awarding body role, to support them in the development of their awarding body function and new qualifications.

“As the Sector Skills Council for Passenger Transport, we are looking forward to working with Flybe and Network Rail”, says Peter Huntington, Chief Executive of GoSkills. “Developing and awarding qualifications requires considerable investment and commitment from employers but it also brings benefits. Acting as an awarding body enables employers to recognise the skills of the workforce via tailored industry qualifications that carry the same status as other national qualifications. I am delighted that the new awarding bodies will be offering qualifications in areas where there are currently no qualifications available to the industry. This will enhance access to qualifications and training for many individuals who are currently unable to undertake relevant qualifications."

Awarding body status allows Network Rail, Flybe and McDonald’s to award nationally accredited qualifications to employees for the first time. All achieved the standards set by QCA for awarding accredited qualifications, enabling them to assess, track and recognise work-place learning which would have previously been lost. This recognition of workplace learning will form part of the new Qualification and Credit Framework (QCF), which is currently being trialled in many different businesses and sectors. The credit-based framework has been devised to ensure the capture of learning and skills in a way that is clearer to employers and learners.

Vicki Ball, GoSkills’ Director of Workforce Development, said: “The opportunity for employers to take on the role of awarding bodies has emerged as part of the development of the QCF frameworks across the UK. The current pilot is open to all employers. The new awarding bodies will be externally monitored in the same way as existing awarding bodies. Employers' qualifications will be quality assured by the qualifications regulators and will carry the same status as other qualifications within the nationally accredited qualifications systems in the UK.”

Ends

Notes to editors

1. The QCF will be implemented across England, Wales and Northern Ireland, subject to confirmation by ministers in the three countries, from 2008. For more information on the QCF, details on taking part in the trials and the QCF consultation, visit: www.qca.org.uk/qcf.